Stop the ‘bicycle lane madness’

Burlington Post

This bicycle lane madness must be stopped. I read the following, with utter astonishment, in the Post (Nov. 30): “...would see the centre turning lane removed on Lakeshore Road from Torrance Road to Walker’s Line so that bike lanes can be added to each side of the road. Re-marking the road would cost approximately $35,000... The second pilot project would run for a longer period of time, from early spring to fall 2013, on Guelph Line to Walker’s Line...” (I assume you mean FROM Guelph Line) The re-marking...would cost $40,000. If council reverses its decision next fall, it will cost another $40,000 to re-mark the road.”

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I then read the following: “City staff reports that some 16,500 vehicles and 115 bicycles (YES, 115) use Lakeshore Road on a daily basis.”

So, we have roughly 7/10ths of one per cent bicycle traffic, and in its wisdom, city council decides to spend potentially $115,000 and greatly inconvenience the 99.30 per cent of people who use cars? Actually, more would be inconvenienced, as many cars contain passengers.

To quote again: “It is anticipated that if the pilot project is approved, vehicles turning left will cause traffic delays.” You’re damn right they will. Has any thought been given to the incredible amount of residential construction going on along that stretch of road, not to mention landscaping vehicles that routinely park in one of the two lanes or in the turning lane?

This is madness. Whose money do you think you are spending on this utter nonsense? Why do you think you have a mandate to do this?

Apparently council sees the upside as being “that drivers using the road as a thoroughfare...may chose a different route.” Is this a joke? I live one block north of Lakeshore, between Guelph and Walker’s Line. I use Lakeshore very frequently, on a daily basis, and I do not want to choose another route to accommodate 0.7 per cent of those who use Lakeshore to ride their bikes.

The property taxes I now pay are at an outrageous level, and this is what I get for my tax dollars? More and more money being spent on bike lanes, greatly inconveniencing the vast majority of people, and a $15 million utter waste of money in the form of a useless pier that will do nothing and collect zero revenue.

I would like some answers here on this absurd proposal with regard to Lakeshore. You are supposed to represent the majority, not your own wishes. In my opinion, and I have discussed this with many people, the vast majority of Burlington residents would be completely opposed to this bike lane nonsense that is being foisted upon us.